An Anglesey-based entrepreneur is driving international growth in the world of motorsport photography, supported by Bangor University’s Skills Innovation and Enterprise (SIV) Scheme.
Greg Childs, founder of photography business Trackside Focus®, says that by working with The Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University he wanted to gain a clearer understanding of who his customers are, how they find and interact with the business, and what motivates them to book a workshop.
“I wanted a deeper and clearer understanding of my business, particularly my customers. The insight allows me to grow and expand more effectively, refine marketing strategies and make better, more informed decisions,” said Greg.
Trackside Focus® is a global platform dedicated to amateur and aspiring motorsport photographers, with a clear mission: helping motorsport photographers turn passion into opportunity. The company delivers hands-on photography workshops for all skill levels, from beginners through to advanced photographers, alongside a select number of media-accredited workshops for those seeking career-focused training and professional development.
“Trying and failing is part of running a small business,” added Greg. “But having solid data, research and analysis as a foundation is incredibly beneficial. It allows me to approach growth with greater confidence.”
As a result of the scheme, and through working with business lecturers Dr Heather He, Lecturer in Data Science and Analytics and Dr Hanxiong Zhang, Senior Lecturer, Trackside Focus® now has a robust dataset and strategic framework to guide future expansion.
Greg said:
“I now have comprehensive analysis to inform how I market the business, attract and retain customers, measure return on investment and assess customer value. It gives me the foundation to expand and develop what I believe can become an industry-leading ecosystem for motorsport photographers.”
Dr Heather He, Lecturer in Data Science/Analytics at The Albert Gubay School, said:
“We’re delighted to use our data analytics expertise to support Trackside Focus®. We’re also grateful to the SIV scheme for creating a genuinely productive model of university–industry collaboration that turns our professional skills into tangible social value.”
Nicola Sturrs, Business Development Manager, said:
“We are delighted to have collaborated with Greg at Trackside Focus® ®, and we look forward to continuing all our business relationships going forward. Our Skills and Innovation Voucher Scheme has proved to be extremely popular since it began in 2024, and we have to date collaborated with over 60 businesses from across Anglesey, Gwynedd and Flintshire.”
The Trackside Focus and Albert Gubay Business School project has received £5,000 through the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
